Dr Rebecca Williams
@volcanologist.bsky.social
Reader in Volcanology in Geology @Hull. Waffle about volcanoes, HigherEd, tea and occasional running. SFHEA & STEM ambassador. She/her.
Pinned
It's about time I announced a project that I've been working on in the last year... I wrote a book!
'Volcanoes: 10 things you should know' published by @orionbooks.bsky.social Seven Dials will be out in September. It's available to pre-order now. Links: linktr.ee/volcanologist
'Volcanoes: 10 things you should know' published by @orionbooks.bsky.social Seven Dials will be out in September. It's available to pre-order now. Links: linktr.ee/volcanologist
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Gmail users!!
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
Gmail can read your emails and attachments to train its AI, unless you opt out
A new Gmail update may allow Google to use your private messages and attachments for AI training. Here's how to turn it off.
www.malwarebytes.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Gmail users!!
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
"Higher education generated £24bn in export earnings for the UK in 2022-23, far above aircraft manufacturing with £12bn, legal services with £9.5bn and telecoms with £8.8bn."
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Less than Greggs? Public have no idea of value of top universities, study finds
Belief that snack chain’s revenues exceed those of Oxford’s one of many misconceptions about UK’s HE sector
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
"Higher education generated £24bn in export earnings for the UK in 2022-23, far above aircraft manufacturing with £12bn, legal services with £9.5bn and telecoms with £8.8bn."
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Study after study shows that using LLMs is bad for cognition, bad for learning, bad for understanding, bad for mental health. So why are our schools and universities still relentlessly pushing them?
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Study after study shows that using LLMs is bad for cognition, bad for learning, bad for understanding, bad for mental health. So why are our schools and universities still relentlessly pushing them?
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Indonesian authorities evacuate more than 900 people and are facilitating the safe return of 170 climbers stranded after the eruption of its Semeru volcano, one of the country’s tallest mountains.
Indonesia evacuates stranded climbers after Semeru volcano erupts
The alert level was maintained at its highest after Semeru erupted 10 times, emitting massive plumes of ash and sending lava and rocks as far as 8 miles down its slopes, officials said.
nbcnews.to
November 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Indonesian authorities evacuate more than 900 people and are facilitating the safe return of 170 climbers stranded after the eruption of its Semeru volcano, one of the country’s tallest mountains.
Semeru, Indonesia is erupting. Communities are being evacuated.
Incredible footage of pyroclastic density currents in the news.
youtube.com/watch?v=ducv...
Incredible footage of pyroclastic density currents in the news.
youtube.com/watch?v=ducv...
Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupts and covers villages with falling ash
YouTube video by Associated Press
youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Semeru, Indonesia is erupting. Communities are being evacuated.
Incredible footage of pyroclastic density currents in the news.
youtube.com/watch?v=ducv...
Incredible footage of pyroclastic density currents in the news.
youtube.com/watch?v=ducv...
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Behold the horny beaver!*
*we may need to work on the name...
*we may need to work on the name...
The cover of Nature’s latest issue is metal as fuck
November 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Behold the horny beaver!*
*we may need to work on the name...
*we may need to work on the name...
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Reposting this for more leads - please, ANY contacts in the licensing dept for the Science Museum?? I've waited months for email replies, and calling the numbers I've been given just gets hold music, answerphones and occassionally weird calls where they cut out or it's just white noise.
🗃️
🗃️
Has anyone had dealings with the Science Museum picture library recently & have any alternative contact info? I've had zero luck getting a response from them at the general email (it's been months since my first email) & my request is getting urgent :/ www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/contact.asp 🗃️
Contact Us - Science & Society Picture Library
View and buy rights managed stock photos at Science & Society Picture Library.
www.scienceandsociety.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposting this for more leads - please, ANY contacts in the licensing dept for the Science Museum?? I've waited months for email replies, and calling the numbers I've been given just gets hold music, answerphones and occassionally weird calls where they cut out or it's just white noise.
🗃️
🗃️
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Save the CSIRO
Our national science & research agency is now facing more job cuts than under Tony Abbott
Call on the Albanese Govt to fund the scientists & research we need to tackle big issues we face from climate to food security and everything in between
www.davidpocock.com.au/save_our_csiro
Our national science & research agency is now facing more job cuts than under Tony Abbott
Call on the Albanese Govt to fund the scientists & research we need to tackle big issues we face from climate to food security and everything in between
www.davidpocock.com.au/save_our_csiro
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Save the CSIRO
Our national science & research agency is now facing more job cuts than under Tony Abbott
Call on the Albanese Govt to fund the scientists & research we need to tackle big issues we face from climate to food security and everything in between
www.davidpocock.com.au/save_our_csiro
Our national science & research agency is now facing more job cuts than under Tony Abbott
Call on the Albanese Govt to fund the scientists & research we need to tackle big issues we face from climate to food security and everything in between
www.davidpocock.com.au/save_our_csiro
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
3 yrs ago, I was nearly recruited to CSIRO, which at the time felt like a dream job. Seeing this total cleansing of scientific talent across 🇦🇺 (not just in CSIRO) is so shocking.
Politicians so rarely pay attention the value of scientific careers, but when they do, be sure to get that message home👇🏾
Politicians so rarely pay attention the value of scientific careers, but when they do, be sure to get that message home👇🏾
Save the CSIRO
Our national science & research agency is now facing more job cuts than under Tony Abbott
Call on the Albanese Govt to fund the scientists & research we need to tackle big issues we face from climate to food security and everything in between
www.davidpocock.com.au/save_our_csiro
Our national science & research agency is now facing more job cuts than under Tony Abbott
Call on the Albanese Govt to fund the scientists & research we need to tackle big issues we face from climate to food security and everything in between
www.davidpocock.com.au/save_our_csiro
November 19, 2025 at 11:48 AM
3 yrs ago, I was nearly recruited to CSIRO, which at the time felt like a dream job. Seeing this total cleansing of scientific talent across 🇦🇺 (not just in CSIRO) is so shocking.
Politicians so rarely pay attention the value of scientific careers, but when they do, be sure to get that message home👇🏾
Politicians so rarely pay attention the value of scientific careers, but when they do, be sure to get that message home👇🏾
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
💛🧡❤️ This microscopic view of a rock from Mountsorrel is full of autumn colours!
📍 East side of Mountsorrel Quarry
ℹ️ "Quartz dolerite", Dr Hallimond
©️ British Geological Survey
📍 East side of Mountsorrel Quarry
ℹ️ "Quartz dolerite", Dr Hallimond
©️ British Geological Survey
November 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM
💛🧡❤️ This microscopic view of a rock from Mountsorrel is full of autumn colours!
📍 East side of Mountsorrel Quarry
ℹ️ "Quartz dolerite", Dr Hallimond
©️ British Geological Survey
📍 East side of Mountsorrel Quarry
ℹ️ "Quartz dolerite", Dr Hallimond
©️ British Geological Survey
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Instead, consider @egu.eu or @europlanetmedia.bsky.social #EPSC, or @agu.org if you really, really need to attend in the US.
We have built a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible community for years now. The work is far from finished. Politics will not take that from #academia.
We have built a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible community for years now. The work is far from finished. Politics will not take that from #academia.
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Instead, consider @egu.eu or @europlanetmedia.bsky.social #EPSC, or @agu.org if you really, really need to attend in the US.
We have built a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible community for years now. The work is far from finished. Politics will not take that from #academia.
We have built a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible community for years now. The work is far from finished. Politics will not take that from #academia.
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
I signed - can you? c.org/RWrgZxFVLQ
Sign the Petition
Save Geology at the University of Leicester
c.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I signed - can you? c.org/RWrgZxFVLQ
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
November 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
And last but certainly not least, we are starting a new newsletter - if you want to keep in touch about events, plans, small grant schemes, and more, please subscribe:
prideinstem.org/newsletter/
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🧪🔭
prideinstem.org/newsletter/
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🧪🔭
| Pride in STEM
prideinstem.org
November 18, 2025 at 8:52 AM
And last but certainly not least, we are starting a new newsletter - if you want to keep in touch about events, plans, small grant schemes, and more, please subscribe:
prideinstem.org/newsletter/
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🧪🔭
prideinstem.org/newsletter/
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🧪🔭
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
To hear insights about the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people across a variety of fields and industries, check out our podcast:
prideinstem.org/category/pod...
All presented by the fantastic @pokubakes.com!
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
prideinstem.org/category/pod...
All presented by the fantastic @pokubakes.com!
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
November 18, 2025 at 8:47 AM
To hear insights about the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people across a variety of fields and industries, check out our podcast:
prideinstem.org/category/pod...
All presented by the fantastic @pokubakes.com!
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
prideinstem.org/category/pod...
All presented by the fantastic @pokubakes.com!
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
If you are interested in educational resources, especially ahead of @lgbthm.bsky.social in February, there are posters, guidelines, and material available on our resource page:
prideinstem.org/resources-2/
Our collaboration with Pop'n'Olly for HM2026 is there and will be expanded in January!
prideinstem.org/resources-2/
Our collaboration with Pop'n'Olly for HM2026 is there and will be expanded in January!
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 AM
If you are interested in educational resources, especially ahead of @lgbthm.bsky.social in February, there are posters, guidelines, and material available on our resource page:
prideinstem.org/resources-2/
Our collaboration with Pop'n'Olly for HM2026 is there and will be expanded in January!
prideinstem.org/resources-2/
Our collaboration with Pop'n'Olly for HM2026 is there and will be expanded in January!
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
If you are looking for resources, @shaunoboyle.bsky.social produced an extremely comprehensive document with a long list of articles, papers, books, and more:
prideinstem.org/2024/11/18/t...
prideinstem.org/2024/11/18/t...
November 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM
If you are looking for resources, @shaunoboyle.bsky.social produced an extremely comprehensive document with a long list of articles, papers, books, and more:
prideinstem.org/2024/11/18/t...
prideinstem.org/2024/11/18/t...
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
Happy International Day of LGBTQIA+ People In STEM!
How are you celebrating it?
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
How are you celebrating it?
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Happy International Day of LGBTQIA+ People In STEM!
How are you celebrating it?
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
How are you celebrating it?
#LGBTQSTEMDay #PrideInSTEM
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
F**king hell: "Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: The academic department and all programs will be eliminated. This includes the BS in Meteorology and Climatology, the BS in Geology, the MS in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, the PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and the associated graduate minors."
They are really planning to go through with these cuts at Nebraska, despite recommendations not to. Unbelievable.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
Final Budget Reduction Plan | Budget Process | Nebraska
budgetprocess.unl.edu
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
F**king hell: "Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: The academic department and all programs will be eliminated. This includes the BS in Meteorology and Climatology, the BS in Geology, the MS in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, the PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and the associated graduate minors."
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
It's Ashes week and who can forget when our volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajökull brought European airspace to a total halt in 2010? For a time, we had the world's most talked about new export industry.
November 18, 2025 at 8:50 AM
It's Ashes week and who can forget when our volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajökull brought European airspace to a total halt in 2010? For a time, we had the world's most talked about new export industry.
Yikes
Abstracts submitted to LPSC 2026 are required to comply with White House (non-legally binding) executive orders forbidding mention of topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
At least USRA/LPI isn't hiding it.
But is this what our community wants? Or deserves? I don't think so.
At least USRA/LPI isn't hiding it.
But is this what our community wants? Or deserves? I don't think so.
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Yikes
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
People arriving here by small boat are desperate, often traumatised. Latest figures are 68% of boat arrivals granted asylum (see link)
The idea of the govt stripping people of their valuables & then hawking it off literally makes me sick to my stomach
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
The idea of the govt stripping people of their valuables & then hawking it off literally makes me sick to my stomach
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
Confiscating jewellery from survivors of a war zone makes you look like a fucking Nazi. And the obscene thing is, that is the intention. It's there to look appropriately harsh. Indecent. Filthy. A moral stain. And no-one of good character would have ever proposed such a thing in the first place.
November 17, 2025 at 11:46 AM
People arriving here by small boat are desperate, often traumatised. Latest figures are 68% of boat arrivals granted asylum (see link)
The idea of the govt stripping people of their valuables & then hawking it off literally makes me sick to my stomach
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
The idea of the govt stripping people of their valuables & then hawking it off literally makes me sick to my stomach
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
NEWS JUST IN! A new book will in fact solve all your problems
November 17, 2025 at 9:17 AM
NEWS JUST IN! A new book will in fact solve all your problems
Reposted by Dr Rebecca Williams
If you're giving gifts this upcoming holiday season and looking for places to support while doing so, might I recommend the Migration Museum online shop.
They have a great selection of t-shirts, jewellery, homeware items, prints, etc!
They're out here telling stories that matter, especially now.
They have a great selection of t-shirts, jewellery, homeware items, prints, etc!
They're out here telling stories that matter, especially now.
🔨 Permanent Home Loading...
Our permanent home, currently under construction (pictured below!), is set to open at the start of 2028, in the heart of the City of London!
Here is a sneak peak of the progress so far 👀
Our permanent home, currently under construction (pictured below!), is set to open at the start of 2028, in the heart of the City of London!
Here is a sneak peak of the progress so far 👀
November 16, 2025 at 9:27 PM
If you're giving gifts this upcoming holiday season and looking for places to support while doing so, might I recommend the Migration Museum online shop.
They have a great selection of t-shirts, jewellery, homeware items, prints, etc!
They're out here telling stories that matter, especially now.
They have a great selection of t-shirts, jewellery, homeware items, prints, etc!
They're out here telling stories that matter, especially now.